Dining critic Terryl Gavre is once again a one-restaurant woman. Gavre, San Diego Metropolitan’s food editor and the owner of Downtown’s Cafe 222 since 1991, late last month sold her Cafe 222 Del Mar restaurant.

Like many restaurant operators, Gavre thought more would be better and in 1998 bought the former Carlos And Annie’s in Del Mar. “I’ve always been in love with that corner,” she says. “When I first moved to California I used to go (to Carlos And Annie’s) to eat and always thought it would be fun to own. When it became available I nabbed it.”

Located at 1454 Camino Del Mar, the hipper, big sister to Downtown’s 222 was open for breakfast, lunch and, during racing season, dinner. “It was fun to put it all together,” Gavre says. “It was just a lot of work. Too much work for one person. During the time I owned it, I was approached at least a half a dozen times by restaurant owners who were interested in buying it if I ever wanted out. The right guy came along in July and he made me the right offer.”

Her last day in operation was Oct. 22. The new owner is Randy Gruber of Americana Restaurant Group. The Culinary Institute graduate is turning 222 into an bistro called Americana.

So what’s next for Gavre? “I am going to slow down a little and spend more time at the Downtown restaurant,” she says. “I have missed being down there.” This month she introduces a revamped menu with some new breakfast and lunch items. After the first of the year she will close a few days for a minor remodel. “When I’m tired of slowing down,” she says, “I’m going to look for something else.”